Economy overview: The economy of the Democratic Republic of the Congo – a country with large natural resources – since the mid-1980s. is in decline. The new government pursued a tight fiscal policy to reduce inflation and currency depreciation, but these gains were undone by the August 1998 insurgency in the eastern part of the country with the support of other countries. The war had an extremely negative impact on national production and government revenues and increased the external debt. Foreign entrepreneurs stopped cooperation due to uncertainty about the outcome of the conflict and the tightening of government requirements and restrictions. The war exacerbated the problems of an underdeveloped legal framework, corruption, rampant inflation, and a lack of openness in government economic policy and financial transactions. See businesscarriers.com to know more about Democratic Republic of the Congo Economics and Business. GDP: at purchasing power parity – $31 billion (2000 est.). Real GDP growth rate: -15% (2000 est.). GDP per capita: at purchasing power parity – $600 (2000 est.). The composition of GDP by sectors of the economy: agriculture: 58%; industry: 17%; services: 25% (1997 est.). Proportion of the population below the poverty line: no data available. Percentage distribution of household income or consumption: for the poorest 10% of households: n/a; by top 10% of households: no data. Inflation rate at consumer prices: 540% (2000 est.). Labor force: 14.51 million people (1993 est.). Employment structure: agriculture 65%, industry 16%, services 19% (1991 est.). Unemployment rate: no data. Budget: revenues: $269 million; expenses: $244 million, including capital investments – $24 million (1996 est.). Economic sectors: mining (diamonds, copper, zinc), mineral processing, consumer goods (including textiles, footwear, tobacco, food and beverages), cement production. Growth in industrial production: no data available. Electricity generation: 5.268 billion kWh (1999) ) Sources of electricity generation: fossil fuels: 2.05%; hydropower: 97.95%; nuclear fuel: 0%; others: 0% (1999). Electricity consumption: 4.55 billion kWh (1999) Electricity export: 404 million kWh (1999). Electricity import: 55 million kWh (1999). Agricultural products: coffee, sugar, palm oil, rubber, tea, quinine, cassava (tapioca), bananas, root crops, corn, fruits; timber. Exports: $960 million (free on board, 2000 est.) Exports: diamonds, copper, coffee, cobalt, crude oil. Export partners: Benelux 62%, USA 18%, South Africa, Finland, Italy (1999). Imports: $660 million (s.i.c., 2000 est.). Imports: foodstuffs, mining and other machinery, transport equipment, fuel. Import partners: South Africa 28%, Benelux 14%, Nigeria 9%, Kenya 9%, China (1999). External debt: $13 billion (1998 est.) Economic aid recipient: $195.3 million (1995) Economic aid donor: Currency: Congolese franc. Currency code: CDF. Exchange rate: CDF/USD – 50 (January 2001), 4.5 (January 2000), 4.02 (1999), 1.61 (1998), 1.31 (1997), 0.50 (1996); note: the Congolese franc was introduced on 30 June 1998, replacing the new zaire. Fiscal year: calendar year.
Telecommunications
Telecommunications Telephone lines: 21,000 (1997). Mobile Cell Phones: 8,900 (1995). Telephone system: domestic: barely satisfactory wireline and microwave radio relay system in and between cities; local satellite system with 14 ground stations; international: satellite ground stations – 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean region). Broadcast stations: AM -3, FM -12, shortwave – 1 (1999). Radio receivers: 18.03 million (1997) Television broadcast stations: 20 (1999). Televisions: 6.478 million (1997) Internet country code: cd Internet service providers: 2 (2000). Number of users: 1500 (1999).
Transport
Transport Railways: total length: 5,138 km (1995); note – due to the damage caused by the civil war, only a small part of the tracks is usable; narrow gauge: 3,987 km (1.067 m gauge; 858 km electrified); 125 km (gauge 1,000 m); 1,026 km (gauge 0.600 m). Roads: total length: 157,000 km; paved: no data (30 km of motorways); uncoated: no data (1996 est.). Waterways: 15,000 km (including the Congo River, its tributaries and unconnected lakes). Pipelines: for oil products – 390 km. Ports and harbors: Banana, Boma, Bukavu, Bumba, Goma, Kalemie, Kindu, Kinshasa, Kisangani, Ma-tadi, Mbandaka. Merchant fleet: none (2000 est.). Airports: 232 (2000 est.). Airports with paved runways: total: 24; over 3,047 m: 4; from 2438 to 3047 m:3; from 1,524 to 2,437 m: 15; from 914 to 1523 m:2 (2000 est.). Airports with unpaved runways: total: 208; from 1524 to 2437 m: 20; from 914 to 1523 m: 96; less than 914 m: 92 (2000 est.).
Armed forces
Branches of the Armed Forces: Army, Navy, Air Force, Special Presidential Security Group. Total military manpower: male 15 to 49: 11,625,554 (2001 est.). Eligible for military service: men aged 15 to 49: 5,915,251 (2001 est.). Number of persons reaching military age each year: Military spending in dollar terms: $250 million (1997). Military spending as part of GDP: 4.6% (1997).
International Issues
International Issues International Disputes: The Democratic Republic of the Congo is engulfed in a civil war involving troops from neighboring states; Uganda and Rwanda back the rebels who control much of the country’s eastern region; most of the river border with the Republic of the Congo is not defined (no agreements have been reached on the division of the river and the islands on it, with the exception of the Pool Malebo [Stanley Pool] area). Illicit Drugs: Illicit cultivation of cannabis, mainly for local consumption.
